On Friday morning, the Committee
of the Whole was presented with draft recommendations on an international regime on access and benefit-sharing (ABS), a certificate of origin/source/legal provenance, and compliance measures with prior informed consent
(PIC) and mutually agreed terms. The draft recommendations were approved with editorial corrections.

Above photo:
Delegates from Brazil saying "See you in
Curitiba, Brazil for COP-8" at the close of
WG ABS-4.

COMMITTEE
OF THE WHOLE

Spain reported on the Friends of the Chair group’s deliberations on an international regime on ABS, urging delegations not to re-open the compromise outcome.

Above photo: Carlos Martin-Novella (Spain)

Contact
Group Co-Chair
Consolata Kiragu (Kenya)(above) reported on the contact group deliberations on the certificate of origin/source/legal provenance, highlighting remaining
brackets in the annex.

Chair Clemente introduced the agenda item on use of terms, definitions and/or glossary. She suggested, and delegates agreed, that the Working Group consider delaying consideration of the issue until the negotiation of an ABS regime reaches a more advanced stage. She then introduced the agenda item on indicators for ABS in the context of
the evaluation of progress in the implementation of the Strategic Plan. She proposed, and delegates agreed, that the Working Group postpone consideration of the issue until its next meeting, to allow for further submission of information by parties.

Norway reported that informal consultations on the participation of indigenous and local communities reached agreement that participation should be strengthened within the existing rules of procedure.

Above photo: Birthe Ivars (Norway)

The EU proposed that the Working Group adopt a recommendation on continuing to support indigenous and local participation through, among others, urging the Working Group Chair to invite indigenous representatives to participate in informal groups; and providing them with timely and adequate opportunities to participate in the debate.
Above photo L-R: Linda Brown and Cosima
Hufler (Austria on behalf of the EU)

The IIFB regretted the fact that
the participation of indigenous representatives was
limited in the negotiations of an international regime on
ABS.

Above photo: Joji Cariño (IIFB)

Argentina
objected to the unilateral and last-minute submission
of the EU proposal, reiterating their support to
include indigenous representatives in national
delegations.

Above photo: Claudio Gutierrez (Argentina)

Rapporteur
Matamoros (above) submitted the report of the
meeting (UNEP/CBD/WG-ABS/4/L.1), which was adopted
with minor editorial amendments. Delegates also
adopted a tribute to the Government and people of
Spain by acclamation.

CBD
Executive Secretary Ahmed Djoghlaf (above) recalled
his message to the citizens of the world to keep up
the promise of reversing the rate of biodiversity loss
by 2010, and urged delegates to show determination to
advance the CBD implementation and carry the spirit of
Granada to Curitiba.

Brazil
said the meeting produced a well-organized and
structured basis to fulfill the mandate of the Working
Group to negotiate an international regime on ABS.
Commending the work of Chair Clemente and the
opening speech by Spain’s Minister of Environment Cristina
Narbona, he said Spain’s voice has been crucial
in moving the ABS process forward.

India,
on behalf of the LMMC, expressed its satisfaction with
the outcome document, noting it could be used as a
basis for negotiations.

Above photo: Desh Deepak Verma (India)

Chair Clemente thanked
delegates for the fruitful discussions, noting that bracketed
text is useful to highlight options that need further
reflection. She thanked, among others, the Earth
Negotiations Bulletin for their coverage, and gaveled the
meeting to a close at 6:57 pm.